Poynter on the Record

Scott Libin, a news leadership faculty member at the Poynter Institute, said he believes the cartoons reflect some emerging racial awareness in Denmark.

"My sense is that Danes are doing their best to understand racial issues in their own way," Libin told Associated Baptist Press. "The question is how do we as American journalists balance covering ... this issue?"

Several news organizations worldwide have issued statements expressing support for the Danish newspaper, saying the press must uphold its right for free speech. Libin, however, said the journalists and readers should carefully study the context in which a potentially inflammatory issue is released.

"Free speech and sensitivity to cultural concerns are not mutually exclusive," Libin said. "The important thing is to understand the context. My interpretation is that almost anything can trigger trouble between these groups."
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